Day 4: Stand Up for a Healthy Community -

Building a Healthier Bay County

At United Way of Bay County, we believe that health is the foundation of a thriving community. That’s why we’re investing in programs and partnerships that help ensure that every Bay County resident had the opportunity to live a healthier, and more secure life.

What is a Community Information Exchange?

A Community Information Exchange (CIE) is a localized, collaborative network of health and human service partners that uses technology and relationships to connect individuals with necessary social and health-enhancing non-clinical services, ultimately addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) needs to promote whole-person care and inform policy change. It acts as an interoperable system for data sharing and coordination among various organizations to provide a more complete picture of a person's needs and to efficiently deliver appropriate services.

With funding invested from the local and state levels, Connect UP, our local CIE, was launched. United Way of Bay County serves as the coordinating entity, working alongside many partner organizations including the Bay County Health Department, Bay County Department on Aging, Bay Arenac ISD, City of Bay City, Westminster Food Pantry, Disability Network, McLaren, 211 and more.

When Bay County residents are facing hardship, and need to be connected to receive resources, Connect Up is here to help. With a no wrong door approach to connecting people to services, we are meeting people where they are at.

Conditions in the environment where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.These social determinants of health are screened for and addressed to improve overall health outcomes.

Once a referral is sent, our Community Resource Navigators (all certified Community Health Workers) will assess your needs, connect you to the appropriate services, and follow you through the end of your journey of needing assistance, to ensure that you are then lifted up, and out of your situation.

Not only will they help you along the way, they will follow up with you, even months down the road, to make sure you are still in a good place, and don't need any more assistance for the time being. This closed-loop referral system ensures no one slips through the cracks, and can sustain a life on their own.

Until you are completely on your feet, our CHW's will stay connected with you!

We are so proud to launch this system with our partners, and hope to only grow with partners in our region. Together, we can ensure that each Bay County resident looking for assistance gets the help they need, and is lifted into a better, more sustainable situation for themselves, and their families.

United Way invests in 10 external programs through our community non-profit organizations, including:

• Domestic Violence Survivor Services and Youth and Community Education - Bay Area Women's Center
• Food Rescue and Hunger Relief - Hidden Harvest
• Rehabilitation Services - Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center
• Adaptive Swim Porgram - Dow Bay Area YMCA
• Prevention Education Program - CAN Council of the Great Lakes Bay Region
• Outpatient Mental Health Program - Catholic Family Services
• Golden Horizons Adult Day Care - Bay County Child and Senior Center
• Domestic Violence Survivor Services & Youth and Community Education - Bay Area Women's Center
• Neighborhood Revitalization - Habitat For Humanity Bay County

Not only are we investing in our non-profit partner programs, we are intentionally filling in the gaps that they don't serve!

Just this past year, with help of many partners in the community, we have collectively served over 88,000 pounds of food through our community food drives.

Through the Bay-Arenac Diaper Bank, we have distributed over 17,476 diapers to 793 babies in Bay County this past year.

An Overall Investment of $273,639 in 2025!

Whether you give, advocate, or volunteer, your support helps us create a thriving

community where everyone has the opportunity to live well!

LIVE UNITED

STAND UP FOR BAY COUNTY.